Automatic telephone-exchange system.



'c. w. HULTMAN. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, I914.

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PUBUEJIL I cacao a a 0000 8000: g n o c. A. w. HULTMAN. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

\ APPLICATION FiLED MAY 29, 1914.

Lw m 1. Patentedfiept. 4, 191?.

4 S.HEETS-SHEET 2.

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C. A. W. HULTMAN.'

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

.APPLICATION mm MAYZQ, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"mcurrc R 'm CLUTCH FOR uomznu MOTIfON g jfl r/ERT/cm. M0110,

Patented Sept, 4, 191?.

C..A. W. HULTMAN.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29. 1914.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4.

izwm 1,

CARLAXEL WILI-IELM HULTMAN, 0F STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN.

AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE-EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Yatent.

Patented Sept. a, im a Application filed May 29, 1914. Serial No. 841,956.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CARL AXEL VVILI-IELM HUI/mam, a subject of the King of Sweden, and a citizen of Sweden, residing at 24c Jakobsbergsgatan, Stockholm, in the King dom of Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic 'lelephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an auto matic and semi-automatic telephone eX change system and has as its principal object the provision of a system having a minimum number of parts, all of a simple construction allowing a sure working and low costs of establishment.

A further object of the invention is to provide automatic and semi-automatic telephone exchange systems using switches, particularly final or connector switches, oflarge capacity.

A third object is to obtain a simple and cheap construction and compact arrangement of the switches when the same are of large capacity in such automatic and semiautomatic systems.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the subscribers lines are arranged toterminate in bare wires, which are laid parallel and can run in either horizontal or vertical direction. The sets of wires corresponding to the various lines are so arranged as to be identified in a two coordinate system. A group of lines arranged in this manner is accessible to a number of incoming lines each connected to a switch having selective movement transversely to said wires in the two directions of;said coordinate system. The switches may be operated by means of (mntinuously rotating shafts and electromagnetic clutches controlled by a register device which, after having been set by the calling subscriber or operator according to the number wanted, determines the amount of movement of the switch in each direction.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a number of bundles of wires in which the subscribers lines terminate arranged according to my system, and also showing the means of supporting the wires and the contact making portion of a connector switch according to my system shown in connection with one of the sets of subscribers wires.

2 is a diagrammatic view in which each set of three wires for a given subscriber is represented by a small circle or dot,- this figure and Fig. 1 being taken transverse to the length of the wire bundles and Fig. 2 showing a group of 100 such bundles.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view indicating the space transversely of the wire bundles occupied by current groups such as is shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 3 consequently indicating an arrangement for 10,000 subscriber lines.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of 60,000 lines in groups of 10,000 each, 30,000 being shown at I and 30,000 more being shown at II.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the an rangement for a million subscriber lines.

' Fig. 6 is a view showing the electrical diagram of the auxiliary switch used in my system.

Fig. 7 is a view of one of the number switches used in my system.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of one of the switching organs or connector switches used in my system.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the switch shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit used in the switch shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 10 is a view showing the relative arrangement of the contacts 1,, 1 and 1,.

Referring to Fig. 1, a and b are con nected to the two branches of the double subscribers line and 0' is the pilot wire, which can be omitted in case certain functions of the apparatus are thought unnecessary. The conducting wires are separated from each other by means of insulating partitions 10 arranged in any way and fastened in the known manner to frames of iron or any other suitable material. Fig. 1 illustrates an ebonite partition to on which the,

conducting wires are fastened in grooves therein; but any convenient arrangement of the ebonite partition with relation to the conducting wires may be used. A plurality of sets of wires a, b, c are shown in Fig. 1, but only one of the partitions w.

K is a bar shown in detail in Fig. 1 and forming part of a connecting switch shown in Figs. 8 and 10. The three springs 1, 2 and 3 are carried by bar K with the lines 1, 2 and 3 respectively appertaining thereto.

If after a certain interval 2 this bar K is carried from an initial. position for instance in a horizontal direction and thereafter in vertical direction to a certain height, the springs of this bar will be connected to the three wires a, Z) and c of a certain subscriber. If the wires to the bar Ix are already connected to another subscriber, these two subscribers will be connected with each other. It is evident that by placing the bar into corresponding positions in horizontal and vertical directions it may be connected with all wires of the subscribers if any number of such wire sections are brought together in this manner.

If in Fig. 2 each point indicates the three wires of one subscriber and these three wires occupy an area of 10 mm.-, 100 subscribers will require an area of about 100 mm. and 10,000 subscribers such an area of about 1 in? (comp. Fig.

If an exchange oiiice of supposed, the contacts of these subscribers will occupy an area, 1 meter in height and 3 meters in length, presumed that the 10,000 sections are placed at the side of each other as shown in Fig. 4:.

60,000 subscribers presumed, three further 10,000-sections can be placed at the side of the former, but the three latter may also as shown in Fi 4: be put together in a separate section and a movable bar arranged for each of the 30,000 sections indicated in rows I and II. The wires in a iven bundle may also be arranged in rhoiriboidal position instead of in a triangular one.

In this respect it has been empirically settled that the number of switching organs (number switches) necessary for 10,000 subscribers amounts to 2%, thus 200 of such .organs (number switches) and for 30,000

subscribers only 000 switches.

If 300 switching organs are arranged above the subscribers wires and 300 below and each number switch has a longitudinal extension of 410 mm., the length of the wires will amount to about 12 meters. If the number of switches be increased oven to 1200, the length will amount to only 2i meters which is essentially below the dimensions, required by the automatic systems known hitherto.

Further it is evident that the length of the subscribers wires not covered is dependent-on the necessary number of switching organs or connector switches.

In the following it will be explained how to move the switching organs in a practical manner in order to find the wire bundles of the telephone desired.

This can be performed in different ways. Therefore, only the most suitable embodiment will be described.

In my system a calling subscriber is automatically connected with an auxiliary switch mechanism each of which controlslthe movements of a switching organ or connector switch. The use of automatic preseloctors being, however, common in this art, they are not shown in the, drawing..-,The. im-

30,000 subscribers pulses for operating the auxiliary switches are sent over the two sides of the calling subscribers line by means of the usual dial impulse senders, but other methods of sending may be adopted as desired.

Therefore, if the calling subscriber automatically receives connection with an unengaged auxiliary switch and switching organ and his pilot wire is indicated as engaged by ground connection he transmits by means of a common number disc as many impulses as the 10,000 digit of the number of the subscriber requested indicates. Referring more particularly to Figs. 6 to 10, the following will give information about the manner of operating the various switches so that a calling subscriber can select and connect hisown line in talking relation with that of any other line in the system.

In Figs. 6, I to VI inclusive indicate six section switches forming part of an auxiliary switch, the movable. contact levers (Z (Z (Z (Z CF, and d of which are arranged on a common shaft 0. Each section switch has six fixed contacts 1 to 6 inclusive.

The different section switches IIV of a given auxiliary switch are connected in the following manner to diiterent parts of the system.

Switching section I ()ne side of the calling subscribers line a comes in by the movable switch lever cZ and goes out by the contact 6 when the auxiliary switch is in the position for talking; the contacts 15 are connected with each other and with a line-relay L connected to one of the poles of the battery B the other pole of the battery being grounded. The relay I operates the two contacts. 7, and f 7, is on the one hand connected with the grounded battery B and .on the other hand with the contact fa, while 7, is connected on the one hand with 7' and the earth, on the other hand withthe contact levers (Z of the section III. p

Switching section II: The second side of the calling, subscribers line Z) comes in by the movable contact lever (Z and goes out by the contact 6 of section II when the parts are in the talking position; the contacts 15 are connected with each other and with a second line relay L connected with battery 13 The relay L operates the two contact springs f and fa. f completes when closed the connection to earth of the contact. levers (Z and dc of the sections IV and VI.

Switching section [I]: The contacts 15 are connected to relays A, B, C, D and E respectively, connected to a grounded battery B these relays each operating a number switch such as is shown in Fig. 7 in the manner further explained below.

Switching section IV: The contacts 1-4 of this sectionare connected with the contact 5-of the switching section V by means 01" the switches and 70 and with the switching-relay It, the latter being connected upto the grounded battery B 1 Switching section V: The contact lever (Z is grounded and the contact 5 is connected with the two switches is and 70 alieady mentioned.

Switching section VI: The contact 5 is connected with the relay R connected up to the grounded battery 13 this relay operating the starting contact K. This contact is arranged between the earth and (Fig. 10) a startingrelay L.

In the following the contacts belonging to the different switching sections are thus indicated that for instance VI: 4 is the contact 4 of the switch VI.

The contacts III 6, IV 5, IV 6, V 1, V 2, V 3, V 4, V 6, VI 1, VI 2, VI 3, and VI 4 serve no special purpose in the system described.

There is one relay such as A, B, C, D, or E and one number switch for each significant figure of the largest number in the system and the relays A, B, C, D and E operate each one number switch (Fi 7) in such manner that it three impulses are given to the relay A, the disk S of the corresponding number switch moves three steps, whereupon the contact connections 1, 2 and 3 (Fig. 7) are grounded, but not the remaining ones. i

The number switch will be further clescribed below. The auxiliary switch and its sections IIV work essentially in the following manner Let it be supposed that the called subscriber has the number 25786. The calling subscriber moves his number dial, placed at the speaking apparatus, to 2, whereupon in the system in which the number of impulses are one unit below the corresponding figure-one impulse flows through the wire a d contact I 1, L 13 to earth. The contact f closes, whereupon a current from the battery B utlows through A, III 1, d The single impulse through A moves by one step the corresponding 10,000 number or figure switch (Fig. 7) whereat its contact 1 is grounded. On moving back the number disc on the subscribers apparatus an impulse is transmitted through the Z -wire, whereupon the current flows through (Z I1 and B The contact closes, whereupon the contact levers ol and (Z are grounded. (Z is, however, connected with relay R and battery B via IV 1 and the stepping relay It is thus excited. The relay R operates to turn the shaft 0 of the auxiliary switch so thatcontact arms (Z 0?, (Z2 d", and (1 shall be stepped around from one contact such as 1 to the next contact such as 2, but it is understood that the relay turns the shaft but one step for each flow of current through the relay and then onlyat interruption of the current. However, the contact F, is held closed only momentarily so that the shaft 0 is stepped up promptly except as mentioned below. This relay thus operates the shaft 0 of the auxiliary switch so that the shaft is moved by one step after an impulse through R causing the levers (Z to take the position 2.

The calling subscriber now operates the 1,000 figure switch moved by the relay B. On. carrying his number dial to the digit 5 of the 10,000-figure he transmits four impulses through a wire thus exciting L four times and correspondingly over (Z III 2 excites the relay B four times. B thus operates the 1,000-figure switch so that it is moved four steps causing the contacts 1 to 1 of the 1,000-figure switch similar to the one in Fig. 7 to be grounded.

On moving back the subscribers dial an impulse operates relay L in the same manner as above described, whereupon the auxiliary switch is so operated by R that arms (Z (Z (Z (Z cl and (Z each occupies its contact 3.

Through the contact III 3 O, the subscriber next sends impulses, causing the contacts 1-6 of the 100-figure switch to be grounded.

In the same manner the 10-iigure switch and unit figure switch are then moved by seven and five steps respectively. It, how ever, the subscribers disk or disc is moved back into the initial position after these 5 impulses last mentioned, the auxiliary switch IVI must not enter into its sixth position speaking-positionwhen the connection is effected, that is to say before the switching organ K on the connecting switch has reached the subscriber desired. I provide for this feature in a manner described below.

The figure switches are simple and easily movable, having a spring moving back device and thus arranged that if for instance the figure digit is 5 all the digits from 1-1 together are connected with the earth.

Such a figure switch is shown in diagram in Fig. 7. 1, 2 and 3 inclusive are common flat contact-springs of a suitable length. The grounded disc S rotating for instance by two steps from the initial position (the corresponding digit is then 3), the contacts 1 and 2 are connected with earth. The disc S may also be substituted by a lever whereby only the contact at which the lever steps is connected with the earth.

The different contacts 1 to 10 of the five figure switches are connected to contacts of the contact-bars Z Z,,, Z,,, Z and Z, and (Fig. 8 or 10) in such a manner that 1,, Z. and Z, respectively are connected with the ten thousands, one thousands and unit figure switches. but and Z respectively with the 100- and 10 figure switches.

As above mentioned the auxiliaryswitch shown inFig. 6 must not enter into the last or talking position bcfore the switching organ has reached the wires to the called subscriber, at the last moving back of the disc of the calling subscriber into the initial position the relay R must not immediately release and so operate the shaft, but the current in relay R must be maintained temporarily, which is obtained by the contact 1V 5 not being connected with'R and by releasing the two contacts and 70 which close a circuit through R and 19 when d is on contact 5.

These two contacts are connected in parallel and soarrangedthat '73 is closed as afterward described when the switching organ K is moving (Figs. 1, and 8) upward, while K is normally closed but is released as soon as K moves up. If afterward connection with the subscriber requested is obtained the contact is is released by means of a pilot relay, whereby R loses its current. 70 is released already before 7a, It, being released at the end of the horizontal movement of K so that R loses its current upon operation of K and thus operates the auxiliary switch which enters into its sixth position (speaking position). B is thus arranged to operate on losing its current. 1f now the called subscriber is not engaged, a pilot relay is automatically shifted and connects the subscribers; otherwise the relay is not shifted and the calling subscriber receives the commonly used signal denoting thatthe called subscriber is engaged. 1n the fifth posi tion ofthe auxiliary switch the switching organ K is operated as abovementioned and in such a. way as to move to the wire of the called subscriber before the auxiliary switch enters into its position 6. This is obtained by the fact that when the next to the last impulse flows by the b-wire a circuit is closed through (Z VI 5, relay R and battery B. The contact 762 will thus be closed whereby the movement of the switching organ is initiated and carried automatically as further described below.

Y are relays operating in the usual manner for moving back the figure switches and the auxiliary switch into the position of rest, either during the switching if released or after closing the conversation. If the subscriber interrupts the switching then both line relays L and L are energized and springs f and 7 at once snap together and all movable parts are moved back into the position of rest by means of these relays Y in a suitable manner. The moving back device being unessential to the invention a particular description thereof is superfluous.

These relays Y may if desired be combined into a single moving back relay.

. The Figs. 8 and 9 show the construction of the switching organ K and the manner of carrying it to the wire of the subscriber in question.

It consists of two parts, one part V (Fig. 8), preferably moved in horizontal direction by means of motive power and a raisingdevice K, moved in vertical direction.

The part V (which may have different embodiments) is shown according to Fig. 8 as a carriage on four wheels moving between the bars s s s and s which are fastened to a convenient support or the wall F. This wall also supports four strips Z Z Z Z provided with insulated contacts and a guiding strip Z having wave-like notches u in which a pulley such as r guided by a spring and fastened to the carriage V will catch and assure a certain position. W is the endless trace fastened to the carriage and running over guiding discs and over the driving pulleys B and R The carriage V is provided with two parallel strips m :and n between which the movable switching organ K moves in a vertical direction wherein it is guided by ebonite pulleys m fastened thereto and two pulleys t and 25 fastened to the carriage. The contact device K is 'movable along the frame R between the bars 8 and 8 R (Fig. 8) can if desired be easily balanced and moves up and down operated by the trace running over the driving pulleys R and R and at the bottomover the guiding pulleys r r r and T The cord running over a pulley and loaded with a weight WV. and. further over the pulley 00 down totherontact device K contains the three wires of the switching organ K, the two branches 1 and 2-and the pilot wire 3 belonging thereto (Fig. 1). By this new arrangement the number. of the speaking line contacts after the switching operation is completed will not exceed after connecting two subscribers of the automatic system that of hand operated systems as the switching is performed in the'same manner only with one connecting wire.

The construction features of the switching organ (wire switch) being described and the manner of moving it in horizontal, and vertical direction to any, subscriber of the whole network of any numberof the subscribers, it only remains to show how tomake it stop at the very isubscribers number requested.

Fig. 10 shows this; 70 is the starting-contact serving forthe starting of the-starting relay L which startsthe carriage V andthe contact device K (also compareFig. 6) (in semi-automatic systems .this momentary closing is operated by means of a starting-key). If the relay L at closing the contact k obtains a momentary. current from the battery B the contacts 11 and 12 are closed, 13 and 12 released and 1 1 and 15 closed.

hen 14 and 15 are closed a magnetic clutch will be operatech clutchingv the driving P 1 3- R-i (F g.2; 8) to a continuously ro.--

tating shaft; the carriage V (Fig 8) then has a motion forward, whereby the four springs f f f and 7, arranged on the carriage and connected with each, other are moved along the fixed strips Z Z Z and Z (Figs. 8 and 10). Strips Z Z and Z are all provided with individual contacts-as shown at Z, in Figs. 8 and 10-which are connected with the contacts 110 of the different figure switches for the 10,000, 1,000 and units places according to Fig. 7, whereas Z has a continuous contact conductor thereon.

7", is a slip spring connecting the contact of the springs f f f and the starting relay L as Z is connected with L It is evident that as soon as L loses its current the contact 14, 15 is broken and the hori- Zontal motion of V and K ceases as the magnetic clutch is released. Now so long as one of the springs f f or f, is moving over grounded contacts at the bars Z Z or Z, so long the earth connection of the. relay L through the bars Z Z or Z will last and the horizontal motion will continue.

The contacts on the bars Z Z and Z are thus arranged, that Z is provided with 10 contacts, spaced in such manner that after one contact on the bar Z ten contacts from the bar Z are following, then a new contact on Z and ten contacts on Z and so on. The contacts on the bar Z are arranged in exactly the same manner. After every contact on Z ten contacts on Z are following, then a new contact on Z and ten contacts on Z and so on. i

In the example given-calling the number 25786-the 10,000-figures have been switched to earth by the first figure switch. As Z determines the 10,000-figures by means of its contacts as above described the carriage V would stop at a place corresponding to the figure 20,000 but if the 1,000 10O0 is switched to earth by the 1,000-figure switch, L thus continues to obtain current. The carriage V would because of this stop at the next contact at Z. not grounded, that is to say at the fifth contact co responding to 25,000, because at the fifth contact at Z L obtains no further current, but by the contacts at Z indicating the units of the figures contacts 1 to 5 are switched to earth and the carriage stops at the sixth unit space on the contact corresponding to the number 25,000 (this because the relay L loses its current by breaking of the earth connection at Z As the contacts 11 and 12 when L was 0perated were closed, the relay R was operated by means of the battery 13 and obtained a holding current via the contacts 18 and 19 and f whereby 16 and 17 continue closed until the end of the vertical movement.

As later the relay L at completing the horizontal motion lost its current the starting relay R for the vertical movement of K is switched to earth via 12, 13 and 10, 17 and B and energizes whereby the contacts Z:- (compare Fig. 6) and 20, 21 are closed.

By closing the contacts 20 and 21 a magnetic clutch of the pulley R, (Fig. 8) and its shaft is switched on. The bar It, and the contact device K (Fig. 8) then more upward. By closing the contact E: (Fig. (1) the auxiliary switch cannot yet reach the spe: king position, although at the first inction of K upward 7.), is released by a relay not shown. On the motion upward of the bar R the springs f and 7 connected with each other, slide on the strip Z, and the contacts on the strips Z and Z respectively, these bars being shown horizontally in Fig. 10 for convenience in illustration butthey are actually arranged vertically as in Fig. 8.

7, is a slip spring connectin the contact of the springs f and f, and the relay R, during the moving, as Z, is connected to this relay.

The contacts of Z, connected with the contacts 1 to 10 of the -figure switch control. the 100 figures and as f, is to stop at the 700- figure, the contacts 10 are switched to earth. The bar R however, can only stop when It, loses its current as the contact between 10 and 17 then is broken; loses its current and the contact 20, 21 is broken, causing the pulley R to be released. Thus 11,, cannot stop at 700; for the 10-figure of the number requested is 8 and because of this the contacts 1-7 of the lO-figure switches are switched to earth on account of which the bar It, only stops at the eighth tens-figure, as it is only at this place R, and R lose their current. Relay R, is then switched off and the contact device K stops and remains switched to the wires of number 25780. 70 also is now released owing to the loss of current in R c, was already released as mentionedthe auxiliary switch enters into the speakingposition 6) fol-now only does the current through It end, causing the auxiliary switch to take one step.

The number switching may be effected quite independent of the relative position of the figures to each other.

For example in the example given with the number 25786 it is possible to switch in the wires in the bundle first on. 20,000, then on 25,000, next on 25780 and finally on the unit figure.

a semi-automatic system is suflieient the arrangements will be very simpleand even all impulse transmissions may be. avoided. Instead of the arrangement according to Fig. 6 a simple key device will be i used.

It should be observed that the switching organ or the wire switch cannot be used for too large subscriber numbers exceeding 10,000 to 30,000 subscribers.

L l U For such large subscriber-numbers it is necessary to divide the number of subscribers in certain sections or substations separated from each other. In order to switch among these stations a special group switch should be arranged in the known manner adjusting automatically to the section or substation requested at which the switching will be completed as above described.

hat I claim is 1. In a telephone system in combination a plurality of bare wires, a plurality of subscribers lines connected to said wires, said wires extending along the sides of a space of parallelogrammatic cross-section, switch ing organs movable along the sides of the said parallelogram and adapted to connect with the wires corresponding to any called subscriber, figure switches connected to said switching organs, and means for connecting, said wires being parallel and having such a length that a large number of switching organs may cooperate therewith, said organs being movable perpendicularly into the space outlined by said wires as well along one side thereof, and figure switches for regulating the movement of said switching organs, said figure switches comprising a bank of contacts and means for grounding said contacts in such a manner that the contacts corresponding to the digits of the number of the called subscribers line shall be grounded prior to operation of the switching organ, whereby neither these wires nor the figure switches will come into speakingconnection with the intermediate wires.

2. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of lines, contact wires connected to said lines and extending parallelly through a space of a parallelogrammatic cross section, the sets of wires corresponding to the various lines being so arranged as to be identified in a two coordinate system, contact wipers having selective movement trans versely to said wires in the two directions of said coordinate system and means for moving sald contact wipers.

with any of said outgoing lines, a number of switches each connected with one of said incoming lines and having selective move ment transversely to said wires in the two directions of said coordinate system and means for operating said switches.

4. In a telephone exchange system a plurality of lines, contact wires connected to said lines and extending parallelly through a space of a parallelogrammatic cross section, the sets of wires corresponding to the various lines being so arranged as to be identified in a two coordinate system, a switch having selective movement transversely to said wires in the two directions of said coordinate system, and meansvfor operating said switch, and a register device governing the movement of said switch.

5. In a telephone exchange'system, a plurality of lines, contact wires connected to said lines and extending parallelly through a space of. a parallelogrammatic cross section, the sets of wires correspondinglto the various lines being so arrangedv as to .be identified in a two coordinate system, a switch having selective movement transversely to said wires in the two directions of said coordinate system, continuously rotating shafts, electro-magnetic clutches, means for moving said switch by operating said clutches and a register device controlling the amount of movement of said switch.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of a witness.

CARL AXEL WILIIELM HULTMAN.

WVitness GRETA PRIEN.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. e 

